haptics
The longer I wait to make my predictions for 2008, the more accurate I expect they'll be.

For example, I foresee (hands on crystal ball, now) "haptics" becoming one of this year's big technology buzzwords.

And that is because it already has, of course.

Haptics, which add the sense of touch to sight and hearing in virtual reality, let neurosurgeons wield instruments in more realistic, and therefore more useful, operating room simulations.

Industrial designers can also use haptic devices to feel the weight and shape of their inventions before they build prototypes.

And randy members of Second Life might soon find that haptics can bring a whole new level of intimacy to their scripted lovemaking furniture.

But this year, most of the talk about digital touch has been limited to phones, such as Samsung's AnyCall Haptic. It has a roughly two-inch touch screen and 22 vibration modes, each suited to a specific application. The screen simulates the bump-bump-bump feel of a mechanical click wheel when you spin the image with your finger.

The AnyCall comes with Bluetooth and a 2-megapixel camera, which is a tad better than most. It also has a drag-and-drop GUI, and you can create icons on the desktop to quickly open the apps you use most often.

Sadly, as with the best Korean phones, you will have little luck finding the AnyCall outside of Seoul.

Samsung is introducing a touch-screen phone similar to the AnyCall in Europe this spring. No word yet on stateside delivery for either of the phones, however.

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